Expansion of renewable energy in Austria too slow
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The net electricity import will amount to more than 5 billion kWh this year, around 75 percent above the value of the pre-Corona year 2019. This again accounts for around 7.5 percent of total domestic electricity consumption.
According to the latest figures from E-Control and an estimate of the electricity situation in the current quarter, there is again a sharp increase in net electricity imports to Austria following the exceptional year of Corona in 2020 there is likely to be an increase of more than 75 percent in 2021. That is more than 5 billion kWh net electricity import and this corresponds to around 7.5 percent of domestic electricity consumption. “Unfortunately, the rate of expansion of green power plants in Austria has slowed down extremely in recent years. So it is no wonder that the net electricity import has risen sharply again this year “, Moidl, Managing Director of IG Windkraft and continues:” Austria must fully apply the hand brakes on the expansion of renewable energies and the energy transition. “
Fossil dependence costs Austria billions
Due to the sharp rise in prices for natural gas and coal, electricity prices have increased eightfold compared to the previous year. Such fluctuations in electricity prices could be avoided, but to do this, “the expansion of renewable energies must be significantly accelerated,” Moidl demands. The price-dampening effect of renewable energies has not only been repeatedly confirmed in several studies, but is also a reality on Europe’s electricity exchanges. A study by the University of Erlangen showed that Germany saved a total of 70.6 billion euros net from its green electricity between 2011 and 2018. The costs for the green electricity subsidy have already been deducted from this sum.
Millions in gifts to coal and nuclear power plants in neighboring countries
Given the high electricity costs in recent months, the price Austria has to pay for electricity imports is also rising. In total, the costs for the year 2021 will amount to around 420 million euros. “Money that is much better invested in Austria in the construction of wind turbines than in the coal and nuclear power plants in our neighboring countries,” emphasizes Moidl: “Austria can profit enormously economically from the expansion of renewable energies. The sufficient availability of clean electricity from renewable energies, which also dampens prices, WILL become one of the most important factors for the attractiveness of Austria as a business location. “